Ann Arbor, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Caris LeVert had 20 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as No. 24 Michigan defeated Hillsdale College 92-68 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.
Derrick Walton Jr. posted 22 points and four assists and Zak Irvin added 21 points for the Wolverines (1-0), who reached the Elite Eight for a second straight season last year, but lost to Kentucky in the Midwest Regional Final.
Gone from last year's team, however, are guard Nik Stauskas and forward Glenn Robinson III, Michigan's two leading scorers. The Wolverines also played most of the season without the dynamic Mitch McGary, but he declared for the NBA Draft instead of returning for his junior season.
"We'll take it ... that felt like a very close 24-point win," Michigan coach John Beilein said.
Kyle Cooper tallied 28 points and 10 boards to lead the Division II Chargers (0-1), who went 18-9 a year ago, including a 14-9 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Chargers raced out to a 12-2 start, but the Wolverines outscored them 48-21 to close the opening 20 minutes and cruised to the easy win in the second half.
Game Notes
Michigan shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the floor and was 11-of-19 from beyond the arc ... The Wolverines scored 25 points off 14 Chargers turnovers ... Hillsdale was 10-of-23 from 3-point range.
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